From Rags to God of War

Don't Even Try It.

With heavy steps, Isabella headed towards the main meeting room of Weber Group. Around the long mahogany table sat Simon Thompson, Adam Weber, Elsa, and Gilbert. There were also several other department heads, all looking tense, avoiding her gaze.

Simon Thompson, seated at the head of the table, gestured for Isabella to sit in the chair closest to him, a spot that felt like the defendant's chair.

"Alright, Isabella," Simon began, his voice cold and to the point. "Thank you for attending. We called this emergency meeting to discuss some serious issues regarding your performance and conduct."

Adam nodded, his gaze sharp. "I thought you would have resigned, as Elsa mentioned this morning. But it seems you have your own reasons for being stubborn."

"Stubborn, or trying to clear my name?" Isabella retorted, her gaze fixed on Adam. "I'm here because I haven't done anything wrong."

Gilbert sneered. "Done nothing wrong? Then what are we seeing? There must be a reason why Victor Meyers suddenly wants to continue the project if you're leading it."

Elsa chimed in, her voice full of anger. "Don't deny it, Isabella! We all know Victor Meyers. There's no way he'd suddenly want you without a reason. You definitely paid Jessica, didn't you? How much did it cost? How much did you give her to help you?"

Isabella felt her blood boil. "What you're saying is ridiculous! Jessica is my friend! She's a doctor!"

Simon tapped the table. "A doctor who is also a conglomerate and happens to be very close to Victor Meyers, and who seemed so intimate with you after you were suddenly reinstated as project leader?" Simon shook his head. "Isabella, all indications point to one conclusion. You've used unethical methods."

"Unethical?" Isabella smiled bitterly. "What's unethical is firing me without a clear reason, accusing me without proof, and publicly demeaning my husband! In that case, I could accuse all of you too!"

Gilbert laughed cynically. "Accuse us of what? Trying to save the company from the scandal you created? Or accusing us of wanting to replace the project leader with someone more competent than you?"

"Furthermore," Adam added, "that luxury car you drove this morning. A gift from Nicholas? That's just silly, Isabella. Who is Nicholas? What does he do that he can afford a million-dollar car? You know yourself, in our circles, his background is unclear!"

Isabella felt cornered. Every word she uttered was twisted, every argument countered with sneers and assumptions. She tried to explain her relationship with Jessica, Nicholas's status, but they wouldn't listen. They had already formed their opinions.

"You'll never believe me, will you?" Isabella said, her voice low.

Simon looked at her with a 'pitying' gaze. "Isabella, this isn't about belief. It's about facts and the company's image. We just want to protect the Weber Group's name."

"Protecting the Weber Group's name by blindly accusing your own daughter?" Isabella scoffed. Despair began to creep in. She had to do something. She needed an ace up her sleeve.

Without thinking, Isabella pulled out her phone. All eyes stared in surprise. She knew she was doing something unconventional in this meeting room. Isabella opened her contacts and dialed Nicholas's number.

The call connected.

"Nick," Isabella said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I need you. Now."

Nicholas on the other end, his voice calm and steady. "What's wrong, Bella? Are you okay?"

"I'm in the main meeting room," Isabella stated, swallowing hard. "They're accusing me of cheating to get back on the Diamond Group project. They say I paid Jessica to seduce Victor Meyers. They even insulted you, Nick. About the new car, about your job." Isabella's voice finally caught. She tried to hold back tears.

On the other end, Nicholas's voice turned cold, almost as chilling as Victor Meyers' that morning. "I understand. Wait for me there, Bella. I'll come and sort everything out."

The call ended. Isabella lowered her phone, staring directly at her family and Simon.

Gilbert burst into roaring laughter. "Oh, my God! What kind of drama is this? Calling her jobless husband? What do you think Nicholas Krause is going to do? Come here and bang on the table? Threaten us? That's just nonsense, Isabella! Who is he, anyway?"

Elsa chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Complaining to your hobo husband? What power do you think he has here, Isabella? At most, he can just tell you to go home and not waste his time."

Adam shook his head. "Isabella, you've gone too far. Deluding yourself won't solve anything. Nicholas won't be able to do a thing."

Simon Thompson merely crossed his arms over his chest, a sneer etched on his face. They all seemed convinced that Nicholas was nothing more than an incapable man, and Isabella's call was just a pathetic, desperate act. Isabella knew she had to be strong. Nicholas would come. She just had to wait.

Nicholas heard Isabella's suppressed sobs over the phone. His face hardened. "Wait for me, Bella. I'm coming." He ended the call, then immediately reached for a dedicated phone on the side table. He dialed a number.

"Jessica," Nicholas said, without preamble. "What's your situation?"

"Nick, I'm still on assignment, can't disengage. The operation is critical," Jessica replied from the other end. Her voice sounded focused, the faint background suggesting a flurry of activity. "I know about the meeting. What can I do?"

"I'll go there. You don't need to come," Nicholas explained. "But I need your help." Nicholas outlined his plan. "Contact our connections. Identify everyone at Weber Group involved in fraud or corrupt practices. Especially those currently in the meeting room. Freeze their accounts. Immediately."

Jessica was silent for a moment. "Understood. I'll send you something."

"Quickly," Nicholas pressed, ending the call.

...

In the Weber Group meeting room, Isabella still stood firm, though her spirit was weary. Gilbert, Elsa, Adam, and Simon Thompson continued to belittle her.

"Complaining to your hobo husband? What power do you think he has here, Isabella? At most, he can just tell you to go home and not waste his time." Elsa sneered.

Adam shook his head. "Isabella, you've gone too far. Nicholas won't be able to do a thing."

Suddenly, the meeting room door opened. Nicholas appeared, standing tall in the doorway. His gaze was cold, piercing everyone in the room. The room fell silent instantly.

Isabella immediately went to Nicholas, grasping her husband's arm. "Nick... you came."

"Of course," Nicholas replied, glancing at Isabella's tired face. "You called, I came." Nicholas glared at Gilbert, Elsa, Adam, and Simon.

"Jessica is currently on assignment. More important than attending your circus show here," Nicholas answered. "But she sends something for you."

Nicholas took out his phone, activated the projector, and played a video. On the big screen appeared Jessica Vincent. However, it wasn't the flirty Jessica Isabella knew. The Jessica in the video looked serious, wearing a special uniform Isabella didn't recognize. She sat in front of a large control panel, surrounded by men and women in military uniforms and other security personnel. There was a large world map behind her, with many blinking dots.

"Jessica is currently with the head of Argus."

The meeting room instantly fell silent. Adam, Elsa, Gilbert, and Simon's eyes widened. Project Argus was a name they knew. A private intelligence agency with an extensive network, above the law and government, known for being ruthless and indiscriminate in fighting high-level corruption and financial crimes.

Isabella looked at Nicholas, utterly shocked.

"Now," Nicholas said, his voice heavy, "you all know who Jessica is. Do you still want to claim my wife used a 'hired woman' to seduce Victor Meyers?" Nicholas pointed towards Gilbert and Elsa. "And that car was a gift from me!"

"I already told them, Nick," Isabella interjected, still in shock. "They're accusing the car of being a bribe."

Nicholas looked at Adam and Gilbert. "I bought that car for my wife. I can afford it. Why are you accusing my wife like that? Envious? Or just plain stupid?"

"No! This is just a coincidence!" Gilbert tried to protest, his voice cracking. "You can't just throw your weight around like this!"

"Oh, really? Prove it," Nicholas challenged. "Prove your accusations. Prove Isabella Weber engaged in unethical practices. Prove she used a hired woman. Now."

No one could answer. They all exchanged glances, trying to find an excuse.

"I'm sorry," Nicholas said, his voice suddenly turning cold. "I haven't heard an apology from any of you."

"What do we have to apologize for?" Elsa still denied. "We were just..."

Nicholas smiled, a smile that was anything but friendly. "For what? Maybe because your bank accounts have just been frozen."

Everyone at the table, except Isabella and Simon, immediately fumbled for their phones. They panicked, trying to access their banking apps. Their faces suddenly turned deathly pale.

"No! My account is inaccessible!" Gilbert shrieked.

"Yours too, Elsa?" Adam asked.

Elsa nodded, on the verge of fainting. "Yes! All of them are blocked!"

Nicholas retorted, his gaze burning. "That's because Jessica's team, under my orders, has uncovered evidence of your wrongdoing. Embezzlement. Corruption. Money laundering. All of it. Weber Group has far greater internal issues than what you've accused my wife of." Nicholas looked at Adam and Gilbert. "Your accounts are frozen. You won't be able to access a single penny of your assets until the investigation is complete."

Gilbert stared at him in despair. "No! I can't access it!"

Total panic enveloped the meeting room. Only Simon Thompson remained seated upright, trying to conceal his shock. Adam Weber was silent, trembling. It seemed Nicholas hadn't touched them both. Or, at least, not yet.